Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Possible linkage between winter extreme low temperature events over China and synoptic-scale transient wave activity

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on NECP/NCAR reanalysis data and daily temperature data of 743 stations in China, possible causes of winter extreme low temperature events are explored from the perspective of the synoptic-scale transient wave (STW) activity. Results suggest that there is a close linkage between STW activity and extreme low temperature events. Firstly, case studies are carried out on the years with the most and least frequent extreme low temperature events. In the winter of 1967, two strong and stable STW trains were maintained over the Eurasian continent, and the strong westerly jet provided a good channel for the propagation of STW. Located in the downstream area of those two STW trains, China was significantly influenced by them and experienced frequent extreme low temperature events. Further analysis suggest that the intensity of the upstream transient wave and the areas where the transient waves reached are completely consistent with the intensity of extreme low temperature and the areas where frequent extreme low temperature event happened, respectively. In contrast, Westerly jet in 2006 was weaker and the path of transient wave propagation was shorter and weaker, resulting in the low frequency of extreme temperature. Secondly, in their long term variations, westerly jet is also consistent with the extreme low temperature frequency. The transient wave path changed before and after the 1980s. Further investigation suggests that transient wave intensities in key areas exhibit in-phase changes with the frequency of extreme low temperature events in the periods of 1959–1979 and 1986–2006. Meanwhile, the main features of transient wave activities in high-frequent years and low-frequent years of extreme low temperature events are similar to those of 1967 and 2006, respectively. Results indicate that winter extreme low temperature events in China have a very close relationship with the transient wave activity, implying the propagation and activity of STW are important factors affecting the winter extreme low temperature events in China. This study can also provide a new clue for better understanding the mechanisms of the extreme temperature events.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. IPCC. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability//Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  2. Katz R W, Brown B G. Extreme events in a changing climate: Variability is more important than averages. Clim Change, 1992, 21: 289–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Karl T R, Kukla G, Razuvayev V N, et al. Global warming: Evidence for asymmetric diurnal temperature change. Geophys Res Lett, 1991, 18: 2253–2256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Alexander L V, Zhang X, Peterson T C, et al. Global observed changes in daily climate extremes of temperature and precipitation. J Geophys Res, 2006, 111: D05109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. DeGaetano A T, Allen R J. Trends in twentieth-century temperature extremes across the United States. J Clim, 2002, 15: 3188–3205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bonsal B R, Zhang X, Vincent L A, et al. Characteristics of daily extreme temperatures over Canada. J Clim, 2001, 14: 1959–1976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Plummer N, Salinger M J, Nicholls N, et al. Changes in climate extremes over the Australian region and New Zealand during twentieth century. Clim Change, 1999, 42: 183–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Vincent L A, Peterson T C, Barros V R, et al. Observed trends in indices of daily temperature extremes in South American 1960–2000. J Clim, 2005, 18: 5011–5023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhai P M, Sun A J, Ren F M, et al. Changes of climate extremes in China. Clim Change, 1999, 42: 203–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ren F M, Zhai P M. Study on changes of China’s extreme temperatures during 1951–1990 (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 1998, 22: 217–227

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yan Z W, Yang C. Geographic patterns of extreme climate changes in China during 1951–1997 (in Chinese). Clim Environ Res, 2000, 5: 267–272

    Google Scholar 

  12. Zhai P M, Pan X H. Change in extreme temperature and precipitation over Northern China during the second half of the 20th century (in Chinese). Acta Geograph Sin, 2003, 58(Suppl): 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ma Z G, Fu C B, Ren X B, et al. Trend of annual extreme temperature and its relationship to regional warming in Northern China (in Chinese). Acta Geogr Sin, 2003, 58(Suppl): 11–20

    Google Scholar 

  14. Yang J H, Jiang Z H, Wei F, et al. Variability of extreme high temperature and low temperature and their response to regional warming in northwest china in recent 45 years (in Chinese). Arid Land Geogr, 2006, 29: 625–631

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yang J H, Shen Y P, Wang P X, et al. Extreme low temperature events in northwest China and their response to regional warming in the recent 45 years (in Chinese). J Glaciol Geocryol, 2007, 29: 536–542

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wang C H, Li X, Miu Q L. Variety characteristics of daily minimum air temperature in China in recent 50 years (in Chinese). Sci Geogr Sin, 2003, 23: 441–447

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tang H Y, Zhai P M, Wang Z Y. On change in mean maximum temperature, minimum temperature and diurnal range in China during 1951–2002 (in Chinese). Clim Environ Res, 2005, 10: 728–735

    Google Scholar 

  18. You Q L, Kang S C, Aguilar E, et al. Changes in daily climate extremes in China and their connection to the large-scale atmospheric circulation during 1961–2003. Clim Dyn, 2009, doi: 10.1007/s00382-009-0735-0

    Google Scholar 

  19. Shi J, Ding Y H, Cui L L. Climatic characteristics of extreme maximum temperature in East China and its causes (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 2009, 33: 347–358

    Google Scholar 

  20. Chen W, Wei K. Anomalous propagation of the quasi-stationary planetary waves in the atmosphere and its roles in the impact of the stratosphere on the East Asian winter climate (in Chinese). Adv Earth Sci, 2009, 24: 272–285

    Google Scholar 

  21. Chen W, Kang L H. The three-dimensional propagation of quasi-stationary planetary waves in the Northern Hemisphere winter and its interannual variations (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 2006, 30: 863–870

    Google Scholar 

  22. Chen W, Yang S, Huang R H. Relationship between stationary planetary wave activity and the East Asian winter monsoon. J Geophys Res, 2005, 110: D14110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Huang R H, Wei K, Chen J L, et al. The East Asian winter monsoon anomalies in the winters of 2005 and 2006 and their relations to the quasi-stationary planetary wave activity in the Northern Hemisphere (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 2007, 31: 1033–1048

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lu R Y, Huang R H. Influence of the stationary disturbance in the westerlies on the blocking highs over Northeastern Asia in summer (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 1999, 23: 533–542

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lu R Y, Huang R H. Energeties examination of the blocking episodes in the Northern Hemisphere (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 1996, 20: 269–278

    Google Scholar 

  26. Zhou W, Chan J C L, Chen W, et al. Synoptic-scale controls of persistent low temperature and icy weather over southern China in January 2008. Mon Weather Rev, 2009, 137: 3978–3991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Hoskins B J, James I N, White G H. The shape, propagation and mean-flow interaction of large-scale weather systems. J Atoms Sci, 1983, 40: 1595–1612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Trenberth K E. An assessment of the impact of transient eddies on the zonal flow during a blocking episode using localized Eliassen-Palm flux diagnostics. J Atoms Sci, 1986, 43: 2070–2087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Li X, Xiao T G, Jin R H. On the relationship between subtropical high activity and wave-packets propagation characteristics (in Chinese). J Trop Meteor, 2010, 26: 571–576

    Google Scholar 

  30. Yi L, Tao S Y. Role of the standing and the transient eddies in atmospheric water cycle in the Asian monsoon region (in Chinese). Acta Meteor Sin, 1997, 55: 532–544

    Google Scholar 

  31. Klein Tank A M G, Konnen G P. Trends in indices of daily temperature and precipitation extremes in Europe, 1946–99. J Clim, 2003, 16: 3665–3680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Murakami M. Large-scale aspects of deep convective activity over the GATE area. Mon Weather Rev, 1979, 107: 994–1013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hoskins B J, Ambrizzi T. Rossby wave propagation on a realistic longitudinally varying flow. J Atmos Sci, 1993, 30: 1595–1612

    Google Scholar 

  34. Chen W, Huang R H. The three-dimensional propagation of quasi-stationary planetary waves in the Northern Hemisphere winter and its interannual variations (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 2005, 29: 137–146

    Google Scholar 

  35. Luo D H. Interaction between envelope soliton vortex pair block and synoptic-scale eddies in an inhomogeneous baroclinicity environment. Q J R Meteorol Soc, 2005, 131: 125–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Luo D H. A barotropic envelope Rossby soliton model for block-eddy interaction. Part I: Effect of topography. J Atmos Sci, 2005, 62: 5–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Luo D H. A barotropic envelope Rossby soliton model for blockeddy interaction. Part II: Role of westward-traveling planetary waves. J Atmos Sci, 2005, 62: 22–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Luo D H. A barotropic envelope Rossby soliton model for blockeddy interaction. Part III: Wavenumber conservation theorems for isolated blocks and deformed eddies. J Atmos Sci, 2005, 62: 3840–3861

    Google Scholar 

  39. Luo D H. A barotropic envelope Rossby soliton model for blockeddy interaction. Part IV: Block activity and its linkage with sheared environment. J Atmos Sci, 2005, 62: 3862–3884

    Google Scholar 

  40. Chen W Y, Juang H M-H. Effects of transient eddies on blocking flows: General circulation model experiments. Mon Weather Rev, 1992, 120: 787–801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Tao Z Y, Hu A X. The blocking high and transient disturbances in Mei-yu period of 1991 (in Chinese). Acta Meteor Sin, 1994, 52: 231–234

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lu R Y. Eddies during the blocking maintenance over Northeastern Asia in summer (in Chinese). Chin J Atmos Sci, 2001, 25: 289–302

    Google Scholar 

  43. Dong L N, Guo P W, Li X F. Relationship between activity of transient waves and excessive/deficit summer rain in Changjiang-Huaihe River basin (in Chinese). J Nanjing Inst Meteor, 2006, 29: 470–476

    Google Scholar 

  44. Luo D H, Li J P. Barotropic interaction between planetary and synoptic scale waves during the life cycles of blockings. Adv Atmos Sci, 2000, 17: 649–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Luo D H, Li J P, Huang F. Life cycles of blocking flows associated with synoptic scale eddies: Observed results and numerical experiments. Adv Atmos Sci, 2002, 19: 594–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Luo D H, Li J T, Li J P. Interaction between planetary scale diffluent flow and synoptic scale waves during the life cycle of blocking. Adv Atmos Sci, 2010, 27: 807–831

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Ren X J, Yang X Q, Han B. Leading coupled modes between the atmosphere and ocean in the north Pacific in winter and their association with the transient eddy anomalies (in Chinese). Acta Meteor Sin, 2007, 65: 52–62

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ren X J, Zhang Y C. Association of winter Western Pacific jet stream anomalies at 200 hPa with ocean surface heating and atmospheric transient eddies (in Chinese). Acta Meteor Sin, 2007, 65: 550–560

    Google Scholar 

  49. Ren X J, Yang X Q, Diagnostic comparison of the East Asian subtropical jet and polar-front jet: Large-scale characteristics and transient eddy activities (in Chinese). Acta Meteor Sin, 2010, 68: 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  50. Shabbar A, Huang J P, Higuchi K. The relationship between the wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation and blocking episodes in the North Atlantic. Int J Climatol, 2001, 21: 355–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Wan H, Luo D H. The relationship between winter time blockings in the north hemisphere and north Atlantic oscillation (in Chinese). J Trop Meteor, 2009, 25: 615–620

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    HaiShan Chen, Lei Liu & YueJia Zhu

  2. Collage of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    HaiShan Chen, Lei Liu & YueJia Zhu

  3. Fanchang Meteorological Bureau, Wuhu, 241200, China

    Lei Liu

Authors
  1. HaiShan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. YueJia Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to HaiShan Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, H., Liu, L. & Zhu, Y. Possible linkage between winter extreme low temperature events over China and synoptic-scale transient wave activity. Sci. China Earth Sci. 56, 1266–1280 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4442-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4442-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation